ried

All,

Here's a 1991 944 S2 imported from Japan. It lacks an option code sticker in the rear, and it's also missing from the service booklet. We don't know exactly what options came on this car. It did not come with a sunroof, nor cruise control. It does have AC, ABS, power windows and power locks.

Curiously, it does have single adjustable front struts, with a twisting mechanism on the strut towers (see photos). Is this an M474 car?

Evidence against it being an M030 vehicle:

1) It has 8x16 (rear) and 7x16 (front) Design 90 wheels. If it was an M030 car, it should have 9x16 wheels in the rear.
2) It does not have the height adjustable collar underneath the front springs.

Evidence it might be an M474 vehicle:

1) The rear fenders have been rolled by the factory. They are rolled in exactly the same manner as my '88 Turbo S (which has M030).
2) It does have Koni yellow shocks in the rear.

In sum, I'm not 100% sure what to make of the vehicle. Is all of this evidence consistent with the M474 option vehicles? Do they feature single adjustable front struts from the factory?

Trying to figure out exactly what this car is...

Jfrahm

Cool car.

I suppose all the RoW 951s got the rolled fender lips in 1990 and 1991, maybe some of those bodies were also used for S2s?

DasSilberWedge

Yes. M474, as far as I know, was the same as M030 except with softer springs, less aggressive valving and was not height adjustable, so it would seem like it. That metal on the top mount isn't the same on my '90 S2 (which is also Japan spec) & I didn't have any of the fun suspension options from new. Don't remember hearing any differences in the basic S2 from '90 to '91 either.

Funny enough though when I installed my Koni Yellow coilovers earlier this year I remembered to save the protective caps from the packaging that covered the metal tooth or pin at the top of the struts (used to adjust the rebound) in order to protect it from getting damaged in normal use ie when not being adjusted. These are identical to what are protecting mine which could mean it was a simple Koni yellow install and the previous owner did the same thing I did.

Beautiful car!

ried

Thanks guys. It's a lovely car and I believe the seller will be putting it up for sale here shortly. Keep an eye out.

Jfrahm

Those look like late 968 strut mounts, but maybe they were used earlier on the M474.

DasSilberWedge

^^ Was wondering where I recognised them from. Looks like that's exactly what they are. Don't think the 944's M474 or M030 top mounts were related to any of the 968 ones but please correct me if I'm wrong. Pictures for reference.

ried

The car has an unknown service history, so there's a possibility that the top mounts were replaced with 968 units while it was still in Japan.

Jfrahm

I think that part superceded the old one so all the new mounts, at least 951/S2/968, look like that. 95134301804.

I have an early 968 and had some S2s and only my 94 has those strut mounts. I had a 944 Turbo S as well which did not have them (still have the uprights).